Australian unions and collective bargaining in 2013

Abstract

Union membership rose slightly, and density fell slightly, in 2013. More substantial falls were recorded in strike volumes, especially in 'illegal' strikes. A substantial part of some unions' time was taken up by the courts. For other unions, much time was taken up by (ultimately unsuccessful) party political campaigning. Campaigns in the service sector appeared to encounter major obstacles. Conservative governments at state levels made life very difficult for unions, some passing laws that evoked extensive opposition. A new conservative federal government looked set to follow suit, albeit subject to its own political constraints. But if unions thought that 2013 was challenging, 2014 looked set to take the challenges to a new level.